NWSL Commissioner Discusses High Impact Player Rule Following Trinity Rodman’s Historic Contract

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman recently emphasized the significance of the landmark deal between United States forward Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit, asserting that it exemplifies the effectiveness of the league’s new High Impact Player (HIP) rule aimed at attracting and retaining elite talent.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Trinity in the NWSL,” Berman stated in an interview with ESPN on Friday. “We have always maintained that securing her was a priority and our goal was to find a way to sign her within the existing league rules, which we successfully achieved.”

Rodman has become the inaugural player in NWSL history to officially leverage the HIP rule with her recently announced three-year contract, which will reportedly compensate her over $2 million annually. This places her at the pinnacle of compensation within the league.

According to her agent, Mike Senkowski, this contract also crowns Rodman as the highest-paid women’s player globally.

Despite this achievement, the NWSL Players Association has voiced its opposition to the HIP rule, recently filing a formal grievance that contends its implementation breaches the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and federal labor laws.

The HIP rule, informally dubbed the “Rodman Rule,” permits teams to exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million for star players. The Players Association has suggested an alternative approach that involves raising the salary cap by $1 million without stipulations.

Berman defended the HIP rule, explaining its strategic purpose in enhancing league competitiveness. “The NWSL has seen talents like USWNT stars Naomi Girma, Alyssa Thompson, and Sam Coffey transfer to England in the past year. The HIP rule is designed to help us contend for top players,” she remarked.

“It is our responsibility to create policies that drive desired behaviors and ensure that capital and resources are utilized effectively to foster long-term growth in our business,” she added.

The union argues that the HIP rule requires collective bargaining, referencing Article 8.16 of the CBA, which allows for salary cap adjustments following consultation with the NWSLPA.

While Berman stated that she could not provide extensive commentary due to the ongoing grievance, she expressed confidence in the league’s right to implement the rule following good-faith consultation with the union.

“In general, when good-faith consultation occurs, it is precisely that—good faith. The league has the right to proceed despite any objections,” Berman explained. “We genuinely value the Players Association’s input and feedback.”

Berman noted that discussions surrounding the HIP rule had taken place among the NWSL’s board of governors since early 2023. The league closely monitored the global market before determining that the time was appropriate for such an initiative.

“Trinity’s contract was always on our radar, but the implementation of the HIP rule and her contract negotiations occurred concurrently,” she clarified.

Funding for the High Impact Player initiative is expected to increase in alignment with the salary cap, with projections of $1.257 million in 2027, $1.342 million in 2028, $1.4 million in 2029, and $1.457 million in 2030, totaling an estimated $115 million in new investments over the years.

The criteria for player eligibility under the HIP rule has also sparked contention, particularly regarding the evaluation of players’ marketability by external sources.

“The league is overstepping by attempting to dictate player salaries with these funds,” stated Meghann Burke, executive director of the NWSLPA. “General Managers and team personnel are in the best position to assess roster structure and negotiate contracts.”

Berman countered that the criteria for the HIP rule were intentionally designed to be specific and focused on strategically deploying additional capital to support business growth. She asserted that the league does not arbitrarily dictate player eligibility.

In addition, the NWSLPA has filed a second grievance concerning the league’s prior veto of an agreement between Rodman and the Spirit before the ratification of the HIP rule. The union claims this action constitutes a significant infringement on Rodman’s free agency rights and violates multiple sections of the CBA.

Berman affirmed that the previous contract was not approvable according to league rules, maintaining the importance of consistent rule enforcement across all clubs.

Both grievances may progress to arbitration. Berman expressed her belief that the recent developments have not adversely affected the relationship between the league and the Players Association.

“From my perspective, there has been no strain in our relationship. It is our responsibility to operate transparently and with respect, and we will continue to do so,” she concluded.